By John Radford illustrated by Donald Rooum (Stepney Green Press)
ISBN: 978-0-9554431-0-7
I’m wandering a bit from my self-imposed brief here, but I can probably justify it with the fact that comic fans are factoid-freaks, that this book is wonderfully and liberally illustrated by cartooning legend Donald Rooum, and most importantly, that it’s my party and I’ll read what I want to.
And that would be a nifty little paperback by Emeritus Professor of Psychology John Radford who has compiled a list of fifty-six topics of common usage that aren’t what they seem. Sub-titled “some things everybody knows that actually ain’t so†this is a lovely tome to sample at odd moments, or when nobody’s watching at the pub.
Among the pillars of common wisdom given a good kicking are such monuments as Eskimos have many words for snow, King Alfred burnt the Cakes, Schizophrenia means Split-Personality, and You can’t prove a negative plus many, many others, all debunked in a witty memorable manner.
Do you know who said “There’s a sucker born every minute†or “Any man who hates dogs and children can’t be all badâ€? No, you don’t, so you should get this book ’cause I’m not telling.
© 2007 John Radford & Donald Rooum.